The Portrait Experience
Wedding guest portraits and fine art prints
How to make guest portraits a personal part of your wedding and a gift to take home.
A wedding is one of the few occasions when so many of your family and friends are together and dressed up. It can be a good opportunity for photographs they might never arrange for themselves: a portrait of a parent, siblings together or friends who now live in different places.
Our Portrait Experience includes individual portraits printed onsite, with couples, families and groups also photographed for the digital gallery. A little preparation helps guests understand the invitation and makes the prints easier to enjoy and collect.
01
Tell us who you especially want included
If there are guests or family combinations that matter particularly to you, let us know before the wedding. Names are helpful, as are any timing considerations for people leaving early.
Ask guests about any access needs rather than assuming what will work for them. We can discuss a suitable place and time for older relatives, families with young children or anyone who would appreciate assistance.
02
Let guests know you’d like them to take part
Some guests will walk straight over; others may assume the portraits are for someone else or that there’s a charge. A message from you beforehand makes the invitation clear.
Ask your celebrant to mention it after the ceremony too. They can explain that you’d love an individual portrait of each guest and that the prints are a gift to collect at the reception. We’ll confirm the location and timing on the day.
03
Keep the studio close to the gathering
Guests are more likely to join in when they can see the studio and return easily to their conversation. Discuss a position near cocktail hour, with an accessible route and enough room around the backdrop.
We’ll work through the portrait, printing and display areas with you and the venue. Include a sheltered option if the proposed location is outdoors, and check that any waiting area won’t obstruct service or the route into dinner.
04
Choose coverage for your actual plans
The number of guests matters, but so does the mix of portraits. Individual sittings, families and larger groups take different amounts of time, and participation depends on how the afternoon is arranged.
We offer coverage around cocktail hour and options that continue into the reception. Tell us your guest count and priorities so we can discuss the appropriate time and team. If you want to include every guest, build that into the plan from the beginning.
05
Give the print display a clear place
Individual portraits are printed as 6 × 8 inch fine art prints with a white border and displayed during the reception. Guests can find their photograph, see the others and collect their own before leaving.
Tell your stylist or coordinator about the display when planning the room. It needs to be easy to find, with room for several people to look at once. A brief announcement can help guests remember to take their prints home.
06
Keep the digital photographs too
After the wedding, you receive an online gallery of the Portrait Experience photographs, including the couples, families and groups alongside individual portraits. You can share that with guests after the prints have gone home.
The Portrait Experience can be booked with Two Folk wedding photography or alongside another photographer. In either case, we’ll coordinate the timing so the guest portraits fit the wider plan.
The invitation matters as much as the setup
If there’s one thing to do beforehand, tell your guests why you’ve arranged the portraits and that you’d love them to take part. A personal invitation from you makes a real difference.
Common questions
How long should we book the portrait studio for?
Send us the guest count, run sheet and the individual or group photographs you’d like. We’ll discuss coverage that suits those plans, including whether to continue into the reception.
Can we book this with another wedding photographer?
Yes. We’ll coordinate the Portrait Experience with your photographer and planner so each team knows the schedule and its responsibilities.
Which photographs are printed onsite?
We select individual guest portraits for the 6 × 8 inch prints. The online gallery also includes the couple, family and group photographs taken during the experience.
Can we use the prints as wedding favours?
Yes. Explain the gift to guests beforehand, allow suitable portrait time and make the display easy to find. Remind guests to collect their prints before leaving.